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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The unit of musical rhythm.






2. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






3. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






4. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






5. Closing section of a movement.






6. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






7. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






8. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






9. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






10. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






11. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






12. The first violin in an orchestra.






13. A composition written for nine instruments.






14. Sliding between two notes.






15. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






16. A canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices. After the first voice begins - the next voice starts singing after a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice. All parts repeat continuously.






17. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






18. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






19. Repetition of a single tone.






20. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






21. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






22. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






23. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






24. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






25. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






26. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






27. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






28. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






29. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






30. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






31. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






32. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






33. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






34. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






35. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






36. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






37. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






38. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






39. The first violin in an orchestra.






40. A short or brief sonata.






41. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






42. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






43. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






44. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






45. The distance in pitch between two notes.






46. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






47. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






48. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






49. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






50. Group of singers in a chorus.